Indians' first baseman Nick Swisher celebrates his sixth inning two run home run during the sixth inning of the Indians' 7-2 victory at Progressive Field on April 4. In the background is Indians' designated hitter Lonnie Chisenhall.

No matter what the score, the Indians are always going to fight back.
They faced adversity on April 4 in the home opener, but recorded an impressive, 7-2, come-from-behind victory over the Minnesota Twins before 41,274 at Progressive Field.
Nick Swisher’s two-run homer in the sixth inning proved to be the game-winner.

Photo gallery from the Indians home opener
Through five innings, however, things looked extremely bleak.
The Tribe bats were as cold as the dreary weather.
Indians catcher Yan Gomes, though, changed the complexion of the game with a 402-foot solo homer to lead off the sixth inning.
Gomes, signed to a six-year, $23 million extension on March 31, jump-started the offense with a scorching line drive over the center-field wall.
“To hit a ball like that to dead center is impressive,” Indians outfielder Michael Brantley said. “It was a great swing. It got the whole dugout fired up. It was really the whole jump-start to our night.”
After a walk to No. 9 hitter Lonnie Chisenhall, Swisher deposited a Mike Pelfrey delivery into the right-field seats for a two-run homer and a 3-2 advantage.
It was his first homer of the season and it traveled an estimated 418 feet.
“I was proud of the way guys fought,” Swisher said. “That might be the identity of this team. We’re going to fight.”
Indians starter Danny Salazar, who wasn’t involved in the decision, kept his team in the game with 5 2/3 solid innings. The right-hander allowed seven hits, two runs and three walks. He struck out four in his 95-pitch outing.
“I was a bit nervous,” he said. “I was trying to stay calm.”
Salazar worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth when he induced Trevor Plouffe to hit into a fielder’s choice for the third out.
It’s amazing how far the 24-year-old has come in the last calendar year. This time last season, he started the home opener for Class AA Akron.
“I think you’ll see more consistency in his game, which will lead to better numbers,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.
Salazar got off to an auspicious start in the first. He allowed two runs, including Chris Colabello’s first home run of the season.
Swisher finished 2-for-5 with a double, two runs and three RBI.
On his home run, he held onto the bat halfway down the first-base line.
“The game has changed a little bit,” Francona said.
Swisher said holding onto the bat was product of his exuberance.
“I was so excited,” he said.
Reliever Josh Outman (1-0) earned the victory with two-thirds of an inning of work.
The Tribe (3-1) blew the game open with four runs in the seventh, which included a two-run double by Brantley. The 7-2 deficit was too much to overcome for the Twins (1-3).
Swisher drove in his third run with a double that brought Chisenhall home.
Pelfrey (0-1, 5.06) was perfect through four innings. Third baseman Carlos Santana led off the fifth with a ringing double down the right-field line.
However, he ventured too far off second on Brantley’s grounder back to the mound and was thrown out. That ended the rally.
Pelfrey pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed three hits, three runs and walked three. He struck out three in his 81 pitches.
“I kind of lost it,” he said. “I started leaving balls over the middle of the plate. The 3-2 pitch to Gomes was right down the middle. ... That kind of ruins the whole day no matter how the first four innings went.”
Pelfrey controlled the early portion of the game using his fastball.
“Pelfrey pitched extremely well early in the game,” Swisher said. “I don’t think he threw his first offspeed pitch until the fifth inning. We were able to get to him in the sixth.”
Game-time temperature was 46 degrees. It got colder as the day wore on.
“I’m going to go home and get some hot cocoa,” Swisher said.

About the Author

Bob has covered the Cavs for The News-Herald and Morning Journal since 1995. He's a graduate of Kent State University and New Philadelphia High School. Reach the author at rfinnan@morningjournal.com
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